Divorce

Alimony is financial support paid by one spouse to another and can be awarded when a divorce, legal separation, or termination of a domestic partnership is granted.¹ If you request alimony and the judge decides to award it in your case, the order can be for either an indefinite period of time, or s/he can order a time-limited award.²

If the judge decides to grant you alimony, the judge will consider certain factors to determine a fair amount to order. These factors include, but are not limited to:

• your ability to support yourself;
• how long it will take you to gain enough education or training so you can find suitable employment;
• the standard of living that was established during the marriage/domestic partnership, while also taking into consideration that there will now be two households to financially support;
• the length of the marriage/domestic partnership;
• the circumstances that led to the end of the marriage/domestic partnership, including the history of physical, emotional, or financial abuse by one spouse against the other;
• the age of you and your spouse;
• the physical and mental health of you and your spouse;
• the ability of your spouse to support himself/herself while also supporting you;
• the financial needs and resources of you and your spouse, such as:
  • income, including income from assets, property from the marriage/domestic partnership, and individual property;
  • potential income from assets;
  • any previous award of child support in your case;
  • financial obligations of each spouse;
  • the right of you or your spouse to receive retirement benefits; and
  • the taxability of income.³

¹ D.C. Code § 16-913(a)
² D.C. Code § 16-913(b)
³ D.C. Code § 16-913(d)